An industry group has warned that South Africa's emphasis on securing the lowest possible prices for medicine is excluding local pharmaceutical companies from important state contracts. This issue highlights the challenges faced by local pharmaceutical manufacturing. In particular, they struggle to remain competitive in the market.
Pharmaceuticals Made in South Africa (Pharmisa) told Parliament that the Health Department’s procurement policies were undermining local pharmaceutical manufacturing. It said tenders failed to give sufficient weight to domestic production.
The organisation cautions that this trend is endangering employment, the security of medical supplies and the government's aim of reducing South Africa's reliance on imported pharmaceutical products.